Intelligent background data conversion

Abstract

A method and system for performing intelligent background data conversion are disclosed. Specifically, one embodiment of the present invention sets forth a method that includes the steps of generating a task list associated with a source data and, according to the task list, converting the source data to target data as specified in a predetermined profile at any time a processing unit inactive state is detected.

1. A method for performing a data conversion operation by a processing unit, the method comprising:
 generating a task list associated with source data; 
 comparing a processing unit utilization rate to a threshold value to determine that the processing unit utilization rate is below the threshold value and that the processing unit is in an inactive state, wherein the threshold value is computed as a percentage of a difference between total processing capacity of the processing unit and a portion of the total processing capacity of the processing unit that is dedicated to data conversion operations; 
 based on the processing unit being in the inactive state, according to the task list and by operation of the processing unit, converting the source data to target data, as specified in a predetermined profile; 
 periodically comparing the processing unit utilization rate against the threshold value; and 
 suspending the data conversion operation when processing unit utilization rate rises above the threshold value and the processing unit enters an active state, or maintaining or resuming the data conversion operation when the processing unit utilization rate remains below or falls below the threshold value and the processing unit stays in or enters the inactive state. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the task list includes metadata for the source data. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a step of: storing state information associated with the data conversion operation if the data conversion operation is suspended. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , further comprising a step of: restoring the state information to continue the data conversion operation if the data conversion operation is resumed. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a step of tracking storage capacity. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a step of tracking network bandwidth. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a step of tracking capabilities of a destination system for the target data. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the data conversion operation is either a single-pass operation or multi-pass operation. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the data conversion operation is executed by a thread in a multi-threaded environment. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a step of storing the source data, and wherein the step of storing is performed at least partially in parallel with converting the source data to target data. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a step of storing the source data, and wherein the step of storing is performed at a different time than converting the source data to target data. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of storing corresponds to temporarily caching the source data. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined profile includes characteristic information for a target device. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined profile includes characteristic information for a target network. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined profile includes a plurality of criteria for optimizing utilization of system resources. 
     
     
       16. A computing device configured to perform a data conversion operation, the computing device comprising:
 a processing unit; and 
 a memory system containing a file management software program, a conversion software program, and a predetermined profile, wherein: 
 when executed, the file management software program causes the processing unit to generate a task list associated with source data, and 
 when executed, the conversion software program compares a processing unit utilization rate to a threshold value to determine that the processing unit utilization rate is below the threshold value and that the processing unit is in an inactive state, wherein the threshold value is computed as a percentage of a difference between total processing capacity of the processing unit and a portion of the total processing capacity of the processing unit that is dedicated to data conversion operations, and 
 based on the processing unit being in the inactive state and according to the task list, when executed, the conversion software program causes the processing unit to convert the source data to target data, as specified in the predetermined profile, and 
 when executed, the conversion software program periodically compares the processing unit utilization rate against the threshold value, and 
 when executed, the conversion software program suspends the data conversion operation when processing unit utilization rate rises above the threshold value and the processing unit enters an active state, or maintains or resumes the data conversion operation when the processing unit utilization rate remains below or falls below the threshold value and the processing unit stays in or enters the inactive state. 
 
     
     
       17. The computing device of  claim 16 , wherein the task list includes metadata for the source data. 
     
     
       18. The computing device of  claim 16 , wherein the conversion software program further includes programming instructions, which when executed by the processing unit, cause the processing unit to: store state information associated with the data conversion operation if the data conversion operation is suspended. 
     
     
       19. The computing device of  claim 18 , wherein the conversion software program further includes programming instructions, which when executed by the processing unit, cause the processing unit to: restore the state information associated with the data conversion operation if the processing unit resumes the data conversion operation. 
     
     
       20. The computing device of  claim 16 , wherein the processing unit performs the data conversion operation at least partially in parallel with a storing operation of the source data.